[Strawbale] Cement vs. clay (was "trashcrete")

[David Neeley]

Feeling a *little* cranky today, are we?   8:)

This list, as are all the alternative building lists I know of, is a mix of
people. As usual, you should take what you like and leave the rest.

It should surprise no one that many people *are* concerned about issues such
as embodied energy, and it does no harm to consider whether there might just
be other approaches that can be used.

If the result of that consideration is that no, concrete still is the best
combination of factors--then at least you will have taken a fresh look at
your plans. Personally, I find that such a fresh look can often result in
different and frequently better solutions presenting themselves.

Meanwhile, it does no good to anyone to try to dictate what a public list
must consist of. Only you can make the decision as to whether the
information you get is worth having to <gasp!> delete a few posts that do
not address your immediate concerns.

Threatening to go elsewhere will simply not work. Go or don't go--that is
always your decision to make.

All of us have certain biases built in from our experience and preferences.
If we are smart, we seek to remain flexible enough to recognize when those
biases may be getting in the way of the best solutions.

I agree that we need very much to find alternatives to traditional concrete
in many applications, but that as of now there are simply not many
alternatives for some very significant uses.

I quite agree with Shody, though, that more people should be looking to use
fly ash for a sizable percentage of their concrete. I have seen as much as
50% in some cases work quite well. This sequesters a rather nasty waste
product quite well, can result in very strong concrete, and reduces both
embodied energy and emissions substantially.

Pliny Fisk of the Center for Maximum Building Potential Systems (
www.cmpbs.org) in Austin calls his fly ash concrete mixture "ash crete" and
has tested it to prove it stronger than standard concrete by a good bit.

Using fly ash concrete, you can be more environmentally responsible and have
a better product--often at less cost.

How is that any compromise to your plans?

David

On 5/4/07, Stone Tool <owly at ttc-cmc.net> wrote:
>
> Ladies:
>         I am here to discuss building....... not CO2 emissions or embodied
> energy.   My building will include about 40 yards of concrete in the
> floor as it is  100% NON-NEGOTIABLE.......  Do you think I would even
> consider building the walls out of mud & straw?  I am interested ONLY in
> the structural aspects of building with straw, not the environmental
> friendliness,  as it is the structure will end up using far less energy
> in both the long and the short term than other structures of this size.